Burke hoses down fears that Canberra is seeking a blanket WFH right for award workers
The Fair Work Commission is not asking whether award workers should have the blanket right to work from home, and lawmakers are not currently seeking that right, claims Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.
Right to disconnect: Tony Burke defends “reasonable” out-of-hours contact as SMEs demand to see fine print
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke says it is reasonable for employers to email staff and enquire about shifts outside of working hours, as the debate about the 'right to disconnect' heats up.
Small business groups left fuming over “damaging” and “rushed” IR reforms
Small business advocates say the latest industrial relations reforms are "damaging", after a last-minute deal between Labor and key Senate crossbenchers saw significant changes legislated on the last sitting day of the year.
Labor reworks casual rules, gig economy changes in amended IR Bill
The Albanese government has scrapped its plan to impose civil penalties for breaching some casual work rules, and offered assurances that 'employee-like' gig workers will not count as full employees, in a fresh round of amendments to its IR Bill.
Small business groups “disappointed” as Labor blocks debate on specific IR reforms
The Albanese government has swatted away the Coalition's bid to debate four widely-supported industrial relations reforms in the House of Representatives.
Lower House battle looms as split IR reform bill pushed through Senate
Independent Senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock have successfully pushed four industrial relations reforms through the Senate, setting up a Lower House battle against a federal government still hoping to contain its contentious IR reforms in one giant bill.
“Nothing in here to celebrate”: COSBOA hits back at casual concessions in IR bill
The Albanese government's recent concessions on industrial relations reform are nothing to cheer about, the Australian small business lobby says, arguing the proposed legislation will still level unwieldy and complex rules on SMEs.
IR reforms: Penalties dropped and casual rules clarified in win for employers
The federal government has ceded ground to employer groups on contentious IR reform package, agreeing to change key proposals related to casual work.
COSBOA, Tony Burke face off in campaign to split contentious IR reforms
COSBOA is locked in a staredown with Employment Minister Tony Burke, as the federal government refuses to split off elements of its highly contentious Closing the Loopholes industrial relations reform package.
Pocock, Lambie push to split “straightforward” measures covering small business from Labor’s IR reforms package
Senate crossbenchers David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie are attempting to split the government's industrial relations reform package, arguing uncontroversial changes affecting small businesses should not be lumped in with measures likely to be debated well into the new year.
IR reforms covering small business won’t come into law until 2024 as Senate pushes back
Small businesses have been given some breathing room before the next tranche of industrial relations reforms become law, after the Senate voted push a report on the Albanese government's 'Closing Loopholes' bill into 2024.
COSBOA fears ’employee-like’ rules could come for all contractors, despite Burke’s assurances
Small business representatives have issued a broad-scale rejection of the federal government's latest industrial relations reform package, despite Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations assuring entrepreneurs proposed changes to "employee-like" work will not encroach on "genuine small business".
